The Spirit of Detroit (1958) is a monument with a large bronze statue created by Marshall Fredericks, located outside of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center in Detroit, Michigan. It is one of the largest bronze statues in the United States, and was the largest bronze statue cast since the Renaissance at the time of its dedication. It is a major landmark in Detroit, and has become recognized as a symbol of the city. 9-ton sculpture depicts a man wearing a cloth, seated on a 60-ton marble base. The figure holds a gilt bronze sphere, emanating rays to symbolize God, in its left hand; and smaller golden bronze statues of a man, a woman, and a child, symbolizing human relationships, in its right. It was cast in Oslo, Norway. bearing the seals of the City of Detroit and Wayne County. the seal is still used today and is featured on the county's flag. Immediately behind the statue and below the seals, the wall includes an inscription from 2 Corinthians (3:17):

A plaque in front of the sculpture reads: "The artist expresses the concept that God, through the spirit of man, is manifested in the family, the noblest human relationship." Fredericks shipped a scale model from the United States to Oslo, Norway for casting. the thickness of the bronze is 3/8 inches up to 1.5 inches. Steel framework was constructed to protect the sculpture during transport.

As part of the shipment, four miniature scale models of the sculpture were included to aid with customs clearance.

Maintenance and restorations

thumb|The Spirit of Detroit prior to its 2006 restoration, showing visible signs of [[verdigris]]

The sculpture has regular maintenance, as well as restorations. Once a year, the sculpture is cleaned with non-ionic, biogradable detergents, and customized petroleum-based waxes are used for protection. The statue underwent a restoration , funded by foundations and other private donations.

In 2013, art dealer and art historian Eric Ian Hornak Spoutz was quoted in The Detroit News stating that the value of the statue is in excess of $1 million. In 2017, the Detroit-Wayne Joint Building Authority said that based on the most recent appraisal of the sculpture, it would cost $6 million to repair significant damage. On September 21, 2018, the City of Detroit had a ceremony to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the sculpture.

In 2017, Spirit Plaza was initially constructed and subsequent upgrades completed in 2019 and paid for by $800,000 in bond funds have yielded a 20,000 square-foot plaza with a playground, stationary musical instruments, tables, chairs, vehicle charging stations, and drinking fountains.

Another extensive restoration took place in 2024, when local artist Robert Zahorsky removed and re-applied the chemical coating over a span of seven weeks.

Uses as a community symbol

As one of Detroit's most easily identifiable landmarks, The Spirit of Detroit has become recognized as a symbol of the city. It is depicted in the logos of the City of Detroit and most of its departments,

It has notably been featured in the logo of the Detroit Police Department since the 1970s, and featured prominently on its police cars in the 1980s and 1990s. It is portrayed in the livery of some Detroit Department of Transportation buses, and featured prominently on Detroit Community Scrip. It is also pictured on the namesake Spirit of Detroit Award, issued by the Detroit City Council to a person, event, or organization deemed to have performed an outstanding achievement or service to the citizens of Detroit.

A stylized version of The Spirit of Detroit was incorporated into the former logo of Detroit Edison (now DTE Energy). It is also depicted in the crest of Detroit City Football Club.

The Spirit of Detroit often represents Detroit in popular media, such as in the 1998 film Out of Sight, Chrysler's 2011 Super Bowl commercial, and the 2018 video game Detroit: Become Human.

Clothing

Since the late 1990s, it has become customary to dress the statue with oversized clothing during major events in the city. Notably, it has often worn the jerseys of Detroit's professional sports teams when they are competing in the playoffs.

Other notable outfits worn by the statue include:

  • a tuxedo, during a 1999 visit by The Three Tenors,
  • branded jerseys during Super Bowl XL in 2006 and the 2024 NFL draft,
  • a purple shirt and bow tie, commemorating the Detroit Youth Choir's 2019 appearance on America's Got Talent,
  • a white ribbon and turquoise t-shirt resembling scrubs, supporting healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Beginning in 2017, the Detroit-Wayne Joint Building Authority began to restrict statue decorations, amid concerns about damage to the sculpture. A $25,000 fee was instituted, intended to cover the cost of restoration after decorations are removed, including cleaning, reapplying the patina, and waxing. Spirit Plaza was the site of a floral tribute, which included 3,000 roses, that commemorated Big Sean's Detroit 2 album release on September 4, 2020.

See also

  • Detroit
  • Bronze sculpture
  • Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum
  • Portlandia

References

  • The City of Detroit: History of the "Spirit of Detroit" Statue
  • Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum: The Spirit of Detroit